Torche - "Songs For Singles"

Torche stays focused after 2008's "Meanderthal," one of my top three records of that year.  On "Songs For Singles," the songwriting is tighter, the tempos are faster, and the guitars are less heavy.  It even says on the cover: "it's just a bunch of radio rock bullshit."  If you're looking for a new Floor record, you're going to be pretty let down: there's no sign of Floor/Torche's former trademark dropped guitar tuning.  Fans of "Meanderthal" should be thrilled, though.  Standout track "Cast Into Unknown" captures the same feeling as "Across The Shields," the best track on their previous album.  Worth buying for that song alone.